‘Scary Mary Berry’ creeps youngsters on Lauderdale House’s spooky walk

Young witches, red devils and sheet-covered ghosts braved a creepy walk in the dark around Lauderdale House on the spookiest night of the year.

More than 500 children took part in the annual Spooky Walk and Adventure Trail at the historic Highgate house in Waterlow Park on Hallowe’en, where they came across ferocious werewolves and other gruesome creatures.

The trail kicked off when small groups of youngsters were given a quest to find a stolen party wig belonging to King Charles II, whose mistress Nell Gwynn lived at the house for a short time with their infant son.

They then toured the grounds in search of the wig and its thief, bumping into a “scary Mary Berry” serving up creepy cakes, two haggard witches and a sad clown, who children had to make smile.

Youngsters eventually returned the wig to King Charles II after tracking down the culprit, which turned out to be a wily rat.

Director Katherine Ives said it was the best trail the house had hosted in more than a decade of putting on the spooky walks.

She said: “There’s a storyline, it’s not just running around chasing sweets, which is great fun as well, but there’s a bit more to it.

“It’s an event, and almost like immersive theatre for children.”